Wishart votes against assisted dying bill
SHETLAND MSP Beatrice Wishart voted against the assisted dying bill which passed its first stage in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday evening.
The controversial bill, proposed by Orkney’s Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, secured 70 votes to 57 with one abstention in its first stage.
McArthur said the general principles of the bill being passed was a “significant step” for the parliament.
MSPs were given a free vote, meaning they did not have to follow a party line.
Wishart was the only Liberal Democrat MSP who voted against the bill.
She said: “Last night in the Scottish Parliament I voted against the proposals in the Bill proposed by my Liberal Democrat MSP colleague and friend, Liam McArthur. I recognise the hard work and effort he has put into this Bill, and the sensitive way in which he brought it to parliament.
“I have been conflicted about the Bill with concerns about coercion and the change in the doctor-patient relationship. I have always said that I would listen to the debate and it was respectful, thoughtful and, at times, passionate.
“As I went into the chamber yesterday I was still undecided as to how I would vote but ultimately took the decision to vote against it.”
Most of the regional Highlands and Island MSPs voted against the bill, with only the Green’s Ariane Burgess siding with it. A list of the votes can be found on the parliament website.
Tuesday’s session was the only the ‘stage one’ vote on the bill’s general principles, and it would need to go through more votes and scrutiny before actually becoming law.
The debate was at times emotional as MSPs shared personal stories, while the tone and dignity of the discussion has been praised.
As it stands the assisted dying for terminally ill adults (Scotland) bill would, if passed, give certain people the ability to request medical assistance to end their life.
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A number of criteria have been proposed – with two key aspects that the person would need to have a terminal illness, and that they were deemed to be mentally fit by two doctors.
Similar legislation has tried to be passed through the Scottish Parliament on two occasions before.
Meanwhile a bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales passed its first stage at Westminster late last year.
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